The blog contains articles by the author which appear in various newspapers in Kashmir and are also available on the website: www.kashmirfirst.com

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Living in cocoons!

(The
excessive security measures have forced Kashmiris, historically reputed to be
very sociable people, to live in cocoons with only interactions through social
networking sites on the internet!)

The
events of the nineties of the last century when armed militancy erupted in the
state forced Kashmiris to mostly confine to their homes. There was violence all
around with encounters, clashes, explosions and so on. Moreover, the security
forces had launched continuous cordon and search operations. Curfews were
imposed on almost continuous basis. These events forced people to stay indoors
in their own homes. The result was a total break in physical interactions not
only among friends but even among close relations. The only interactions were
at funeral prayers. This tense atmosphere continued for the whole decade of
nineties.

In
the beginning of the present century with the lessening of militant activities,
there was some relaxation in the situation. However, the physical social
interactions still remained rare. Now people used to meet on marriages, some
other social functions and as earlier at funerals. The traditional social
calling on still remained rare. It may have increased but then we got profuse
spread of the internet with its social networking sites of Facebook and
Twitter. People found it easy to interact with not only close relations and
friends but almost with every organization, newspaper and other set ups of
every kind. People started becoming armchair intellectuals, experts and what
not! Social events too got fully interactive through these sites. The most
destructive fallout was the phenomenal decrease in physical social
interactions. Some people virtually started living in cocoons watching the
screens of their laptops or smart phones.

The
social networking sites are very useful for quick communication, discussion,
debate and gathering of information. However, making these sites an end in
itself is definitely harmful both physically as well as socially. The greatest
revolution in information technology has been the internet known as the
information highway. It has tremendous advantages but there are also many scary
aspects which need to be kept in view. It is a fact that getting glued to
internet whether through social net-working sites or otherwise puts one into a
virtual cocoon. It is very essential to revive physical interaction unless one
wants to become a silk worm in a cocoon. One cannot dispense with the physical
interaction as in the long run it is harmful. Moreover, absence of physical
interaction results in isolation which causes mental trauma. According to a
report prepared by the “Doctors Without Borders”, almost every second person in
Kashmir is suffering from mental trauma. In fact, according to psychiatrists,
one of the main causes of dementia and derangement in elders is physical
isolation.

Now,
the question arises how can physical social interaction be revived? First is
meeting and visiting relations and friends on a regular basis. Apart from
visiting relations and friends regularly, one can arrange social meetings in
different homes rather than in five star hotels and restaurants. Next is
physical social interaction of intellectuals, journalists and civil society
members. About three decades back, Srinagar had a well-known meeting point and
a physical interaction site. That was the famous “India Coffee House”. However,
due to the turmoil of nineties, the organization which had been managing these
coffee houses closed its outlet in Srinagar. Since that time in spite of the
return of ideal atmosphere no one has come forward to start a similar no-loss/
no-profit joint in Srinagar or other places. We have many places but these are
expensive and an average citizen cannot afford these on a regular basis. There
is scope for starting a chain of Coffee Houses in different major towns of
Kashmir Valley where people can meet and exchange views. Will someone come
forward and do it? That is a prospect worth exploring.

The
other absence of a physical social interaction especially among the journalist
community and intellectuals has been the absence of a Press Club. It is a pity
that in spite of a huge entourage of local, national and international
journalists we do not have a Press Club in Srinagar. For some unknown reasons all
he governments so far have failed to facilitate the setting of a Press Club in
Srinagar. Jammu where the size of the journalist community is small has a
flourishing Press Club. It is time that some members of the journalist
community come forward make a concerted effort to set up a Press Club. It is also
obligatory for the state to assist in setting up such a facility. Finally,
while debating physical social interactions, one must not forget an Art Gallery
which is almost a mandatory spot in most famous capitals throughout the world.
For a change, let all friends come forward with their views on the subject.